Massachusetts's Federally-Recognized Tribes

There are two federally-recognized tribes in Massachusetts. The DOJ marijuana policy on tribal reservations applies to these Massachusetts tribes. Each is federally recognized as sovereign by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the U.S. Interior Department.

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)

For a complete list of Massachusetts tribes and their locations, see our page about Massachusetts Tribes.

News Articles

Mashpee Wampanoag Group Seeks Marijuana Retail Permit

February 8, 2019

The State Cannabis Control Commission will issue only one permit in Mashpee retailer to sale recreational marijuana. There are six applicants seeking that single permit and one of the applicants is Greenerside Holdings, a Mashpee Wampanoag group.

Greenerside plans to open a dispensary in industrial park at 41 Mercantile Way. Their building would be 3,500 to 6,000 square feet and requires finding nearby customer parking. The location is near the border of Falmouth on Route 28.

Greenerside also plans to pay 10% of earnings to the tribe, and another percentage to a local nonprofit. This is in addition to the standard taxes it will pay to the state and local governments.

Greenerside will also hire 10 to 15 tribal members to operate the business.

Jaison L. Cramer is the manager of Greenerside Holdings. He said, "When we thought about doing this, we wanted to give back to our tribe. We're not just giving back the 10 percent, but we're giving them good jobs and training."